Cavs are a "regional team" (Cleveland, Toronto: 2014, how much)

[WRnative]

Here's the big difference between the market for the Cavs versus the Indians and Browns. The latter two have extensive regional competition, shrinking the size of their effective markets.

Cleveland Cavaliers have Terry Talkin' huge TV ratings and embracing the franchise -- Terry Pluto (photos) | cleveland.com

[chet_kinkaid]

The cavs with Lebron James..I've always been a fan..but without Lebron or success..the ratings wouldn't be very good.I do agree there's no competition from regional cities as the closest teams are Detroit,Toronto an Indiana.

[bjimmy24]

Waiting for maxmodder to chime in on the NBA playoffs.

I heard there was only one team with a perfect record so far, with like 4 Steph Curry like shooters from beyond the arc, but just remember which team I'm thinking of.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by chet_kinkaid

The cavs with Lebron James..I've always been a fan..but without Lebron or success..the ratings wouldn't be very good.I do agree there's no competition from regional cities as the closest teams are Detroit,Toronto an Indiana.

"without Lebron or success"

It's success. LeBron is awesome, don't get me wrong. But if the Cavs were in the playoffs with just Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, people would still be tuning in.

Winning cures all.

[Cleverfield]

Originally Posted by chet_kinkaid

The cavs with Lebron James..I've always been a fan..but without Lebron or success..the ratings wouldn't be very good.I do agree there's no competition from regional cities as the closest teams are Detroit,Toronto an Indiana.

From the article:

'"The amazing thing was during our rebuilding years (2010-14, no James), we still were in the top half of NBA TV ratings most seasons," said Komoroski.'

[theurbanfiles]

That seems to be true of all Cleveland teams that they've been strong from a ratings standpoint. The tribe in 2014 was in the top 5 ratings in the league locally despite a decent but unremarkable 85-77 campaign. I'd say if one team ever was to move, it'd be the Indians. The Cavs won't move because of what WRNative mentioned about the ratings thing, and the Browns just have so many fans because football is so big. I don't even see the Indians leaving though, because while it was a while ago, 455 was truly unprecedented and something most markets couldn't do.

[Clevelander17]

The Browns were more of a regional team, too, at one point before the Bengals were founded and before the Steelers were any good. While going to college in SWO I did notice that there were still a number of older, "legacy" Browns fans around.

[theurbanfiles]

Yeah I talked to a guy from Rochester who is a Browns fan because when growing up would rather drive longer than watch Bills

[WRnative]

First Energy Stadium also is in downtown Cleveland, whereas Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium is in Orchard Park, NY.

There is much, much more to do on a football weekend to Cleveland than on one to Buffalo.

My impression is that the Indians in the summer also do well among persons from the likes of NYC who can save megabucks over a visit to Yankee Stadium and have a cheap weekend of fun at the same time.

[theurbanfiles]

I can't disagree with that, but this guy was in Florida (now in his 70s), so of course both cities were in different straits then. As per Indians, I think that could help, but I do really wonder how much dynamic pricing actually helps in terms of revenue. I mean, I think in some ways with the way they've done that the past few years at least, they were more expensive than numerous franchises, but since they were earning more per ticket and not opening certain sections. Hopefully the new renovations will help to draw more people this summer, because they need it.